More Detailed information and specific itineraries in our:
Basic and advanced diving guide in the Medas Islands, coming soon!
Diving in the Medas Islands: South Dolphin Cave
The route we propose for the dive in the south Dolphin Cave is one of the most entertaining and spectacular in the marine reserve of the Medas Islands.
Very important: if you want to do ALL of the proposed route, you will need advanced level with a cave specialty (and/or sufficient experience), as well as the ability to use a compass and good orientation.
Diving itinerary in South Dolphin Cave
The southern part of the Meda Petita islet is protected from the north winds and enjoys a spectacular dive site.
The tunnels that cross the island from side to side, along with another tunnel that has an air cavity at its end, with lots of life everywhere make this dive very special. The depths hover around -15m and -25m, with the air cavity at 0m.
The long tunnel lives up to its name with 65 meters in length! where we will have time to contemplate holes full of fauna, nudibranchs, curious groupers, conger eels, slipper lobster and greater forkbeard, among other local fauna.
Surface, we start the dive!
After a 10 minute boat ride from the port of l’Estartit, we arrived at the south Dolphin Cave dive site. We jump into the water, check that everything is ok and go down the buoy.
- The cathedral: The tour starts heading north towards the cathedral, where inside some stone blocks mark the beginning of the long tunnel.
If we are not experienced enough to cross through the long tunnel, we will stay exploring this area of the cathedral, its backlights are very beautiful.
Exploring the ‘cathedral’
2. The long tunnel: After exploring the cathedral we enter the long tunnel. This tunnel is 65 meters long and is quite wide, 8 to 10 meters in diameter.
Due to its length, the exit is not visible from the entrance, so it is essential to have at least two flashlights per diver to do it safely (refrain from entering if you do not have the necessary equipment).
During the tour through this fantastic tunnel, we will be able to observe projections in the rock where we will be able to find forkbeards, conger eels or solitary groupers.
Grouper, in the long tunnel
Inspecting the wall holes, in the long tunnel
Nudibranch, in the long tunnel
We will advance slowly observing the walls of the tunnel with our flashlights during the whole route, there is a lot of hidden life! And so on until we reach the end of the tunnel. At this point we will reach the maximum depth of this dive, -22 meters.
Arriving at the north exit of the long tunnel
At the exit of the tunnel we will look at the gorgonian walls on the right hand side, they are spectacular.
Walls of gorgonians at the north exit of the long tunnel
Walls of gorgonians at the north exit of the long tunnel
We will explore this area, the gorgonian walls and the rocky bottom. We will see more groupers and schools of brown meagre. Also, if we look over our heads on the right hand side there is a hole in the rock where there are usually schools of white seabream.
brown meagres, at the exit of the long tunnel
Hole in the rock ceiling at the north exit of the long tunnel
After exploring this area, we return the way we came, through the long tunnel, towards the cathedral. It is important to control both time and air consumption, as we have to go through the tunnel there and back.
3. The Dolphin Cave (Dofí): When you get back to the beginning of the tunnel, at the cathedral, take the exit on the right and you will see the statue of the “Dofí” after few meters.
Dofí Statue
In the area of the Dolphin statue
We will stay a while exploring this area. Now we will look at the rock walls and cracks, where more than one animal will surprise us hidden, are very common moray eels, alfonsitos, hermit crabs, painted comber, etc.
moray eel in a crack, in the Dofí area
Hermit crab, in the Dofí area
We will continue the dive without entering the Dolphin cave, and without changing the direction we are heading, we will continue with the wall on our right.
This wall is very beautiful, with another area of spectacular gorgonians. In about 15 meters from the statue of the Dolphin, and approximately -12 meters deep we will find the entrance of the tunnel that gives access to an air cavity at its end.
4. Cave of the air bubble (0m): We enter this cave, where when we reach its end, we arrive at a unique air bubble. As we do not know how this air is, we do not take off our regulators.
Air bubble cave
Tubeworm in the walls of the air bubble cave.
Paying attention to our ears for possible compensation problems, we slowly dive back out of the cave compensation problems, we slowly dive back down to get out of the cave and return to the boat.
If we are prone to ear compensation problems, it is better not to go up to the air bubble and stay below, at -5 meters. Especially if we leave this part of the course for the end of the dive.
Fantastic dive, very complete and entertaining. Cave enthusiasts will surely enjoy it, and for lovers of marine fauna and flora, you will find many areas full of great local marine life.
Undoubtedly Medas Islands marine reserve, is a paradise that we all must take care of and preserve.
Other possibilities
The Dolphin Cave open water itinerary
We will start the route exploring the cathedral area, which is a large cavity with multiple light entrances. After enjoying the contrasts of light, we will continue, with the wall on our right, towards the area of the Dolphin Cave.
We will explore this area and its cavities without going through the tunnel. And we will continue (always with the wall to our right) through a wall of gorgonians to reach the entrance of the cave of the air bubble (about -12 m).
We will explore the area without entering and return to the boat buoy. We will never go deeper than 20 meters during this trip.
Serra Ventosa
Large walls of gorgonians in Serra Ventosa
Anemone or green cerianthus, in the cave of Sierra Ventosa
Submerged mountain with a sandy bottom at about -35 meters deep, with a small cave where we can observe a beautiful green anemone. Above the mountain we will enjoy a myriad of life, including: large groupers, three tailed fish, moray eels, scorpion fish and slipper lobster
This tour requires experience in deep dives and good orientation.
Cueva profunda del Bogavante
Entering into the deep cave
Coming out of the deep cave
Once we have crossed the long tunnel, we have the possibility to visit a very nice deep cave. In fact, it is an arch, with a deep entrance at -38m and exit at -28m.
During the trip (about 12/14 meters) we will try to see some lobster. Also on this route we will go to the North point of the small Meda where there are usually eagle rays.
This tour requires experience in deep dives, caves and good orientation. We explain how to find it in our Medas Islands Dive Guide, link below:
More Detailed information and specific itineraries in our:
Basic and advanced diving guide in the Medas Islands, coming soon!
Other dives in the Medas Islands
- El Dofí
- Salpatxot
- Carall Bernat
- Tascó Petit
- Pedra de Déu
- La Vaca
- Pota del Llop
- Tascó Gros
- Embarcador del Francès
- Les Ferranelles
You can also consult more information about diving in the marine reserve in our Guide to the best dives in the Medes Islands.
Our diving center in l’Estartit is Les Illes, for its service and personal attention, with more than 35 years of experience in the diving sector, making us enjoy our dives in the Medes Islands.
